Thursday, 4 June 2015

Besigye, Lukwago arrested over poll reforms meet

KAMPALA. Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago
and former FDC boss Dr Kizza Besigye were on Thursday charged before
courts of law for allegedly disobeying lawful orders issued to them by
police not to hold a meeting at Nsambya Youth Sharing Hall to discuss
electoral reforms.

The duo voluntarily appeared before Makindye Chief
Magistrates Court and denied the charges slapped against them by the
state from the new Public Order Management Act 2014.

The opposition political activists were responding to criminal summons issued to them last Wednesday by the court.

They were jointly charged with two others who included Besigye’s driver Fred Kato and his aide Jethro Nuwagaba.

Presiding Grade One Magistrate Gladys Kamasanyu
Musenze, released the four suspects on a non cash bail of Shs2 million
and each of their nine sureties was bonded at a noncash of Shs1 million.

While releasing the suspects, the magistrate
hailed them for being lawful citizens who voluntarily brought themselves
to court and also that they had substantial sureties.

Court ordered the suspects to return to court on
July 6 when the hearing of the case will start as investigations into
the matter are complete.

Prosecution led by Ms Christine Byamugisha,
alleged that the suspects on May 14, this year at Nsambya Youth Sharing
Hall, disobeyed the lawful orders of police officer Siraje Bakaleke, the
Kampala South Metropolitan commander when he instructed them to
disperse from the meeting venue.

Their being charged comes two weeks after a group
of ten youths were charged with being a common public nuisance at City
Hall Court over the same Nsambya meeting. But one wonders why the other
group was charged before City Hall Court with a different charge and
Besigye’s also is charged with another